Samuel Gelston’s Whiskey Irish Cup final Ballymena United v Crusaders (Sunday, 2.30pm, live on BBC Two)
BALLYMENA United goalkeeper Sean O’Neill knows more than most about the sides taking part in Sunday's Irish Cup final.
The stopper is enjoying a second spell at the Showgrounds, having played during a hugely successful 11-year stint under Stephen Baxter at opponents Crusaders in between.
However, the Belfast man does not hold any conflict of interest going into the showpiece.
“Look, I had some great years at Crusaders and won plenty of trophies but I’ll not be having a battle with my conscience come Sunday,” he said.
“I’m very much a Ballymena player now and I’ll be giving all I’ve got to bring the trophy back here because I know how much it means to the people here.”
O’Neill recognises that his side has not had the best of seasons, finishing ninth in the league and, unlike Crusaders, without the safety net of play-off to reach Europe if they are defeated on Sunday.
“It’s disappointing because we were in the last European play-off spot back in January and we threw it away with some poor results,” he said.
“But that just makes us even hungrier come final day, as we know it’s all or nothing.”
Crusaders will go into the game as favourites after finishing four places above David Jeffrey’s men in the league.
While O’Neill recognises the threats the north Belfast side pose he is not daunted by the task at hand.
“We know what Crusaders bring to the table. Stephen will have them well set up and every man will know his job to a tee,” the 35-year-old said.
“They are quite a physical side with dangerous midfielders running through defenders.
“But we have nothing to fear, we were one of very few teams to beat them at Seaview this year and drew with them at home so they will not be expecting an easy afternoon, that’s for sure.”
O’Neill is savvy enough to understand the importance of European football for the Warden Street side next season, particularly financially, and this gives an extra impetus going into the game.
“When we look at the top three or four sides in the league with a full-time set-up, it is going to get harder and harder for the regional sides especially to play catchup,” he said
“The only way we can add to the squad and keep our best players is being part of Europe and that’s our big goal now.”
O’Neill was on loan at Ballymena from Crusaders last season, so didn’t play when the sides met in the cup final due to the terms of the deal.
He says the Braidmen are determined to put right what went wrong in that extra-time loss tomorrow.
“It’s not personal for me, I’m just focussing on getting everything right for Sunday,” he said.
“I’ve missed a few games recently with a knee issue but I’m on the mend now and chomping at the bit to get out there.
“People say we were heartbroken last year but I don’t agree with that. I think in football you lose because you made mistakes and we didn’t defend well enough for the goals, so emotion doesn’t really come into it, just fixing our system.
“The people of the town are more entitled to be heartbroken as there is a sense of letting them down and that’s why this Sunday is for them as much as us.”
